Wayne Rooney recounts tussles with iconic AC Milan duo Paolo Maldini and Alessandro Nesta - ‘Like Rolls Royces’

Wayne Rooney highlighted the iconic AC Milan duo of Alessandro Nesta and Paolo Maldini as two of his toughest opponents.

Manchester United’s record goalscorer recounted facing the legendary Italian defenders in the 2006/07 UEFA Champions League semi-finals alongside former Red Devils team-mate Rio Ferdinand.

Despite seemingly managing to get the better of both players in a 3-2 first-leg win at Old Trafford, the pair were at their imperious best in a second leg which The Rossoneri won 3-0.

“I always remember playing AC Milan in the semi-final of the Champions League,” Rooney told TNT Sports. “Obviously, we went on to go and play in finals, but that was the first semi-final.

“I remember when we beat them 3-2 here [at Old Trafford] and after 10 minutes I could hear them breathing and I remembering thinking: ‘we’ve got them’

And then when we went to the San Siro, they were like Rolls Royces. I don’t know how they did it.”

Rooney and Ferdinand would go on to win the Champions League together the following season after a dramatic 6-5 penalty shoot-out win over Chelsea on a rain-soaked evening in Moscow.

United pipped The Blues to domestic and European glory in that campaign, but the West Londoners reigned supreme with back-to-back Premier League titles in 2004/05 and 2005/06.

The former England captain explained that facing a Chelsea side managed by Jose Mourinho in those two seasons was a daunting prospect.

“The only team really which I could never win against for a few years was Chelsea,” Rooney added.

“I used to hate going to Stamford Bridge, and it was when Mourinho was there the first time. They were horrible to play against, and were solid and organised.”

Sir Alex Ferguson’s squad eventually managed to topple Mourinho’s men by ending a four-year wait to win the Premier League in 2006/07 – their first of three consecutive titles.

But despite being a fearless competitor, Rooney doubted how United were going to close the gap on Mourinho’s table-topping side.

He said: “I always remember thinking, ‘I don't know how anyone is going to stop them?’ Then obviously we did, but it was always a tough game against them."

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